Suzuki Motorcycle India has launched the Access 125 and Burgman Street with a Bluetooth-enabled digital instrument cluster, making it the second manufacturer — after the Smart Xonnect tech on TVS' NTorq 125 — to offer this feature in the 125cc scooter space. Called Suzuki Ride Connect, it can be accessed by the rider after downloading the eponymous app from the Google Playstore (sorry Apple users).
On offer are features like turn-by-turn navigation with estimated time of arrival, call/SMS and WhatsApp alerts, missed call alert and caller id, phone battery level display, over speed warning, last parked location and trip report.
Additionally, there is also the inclusion of two new colour schemes (Metallic Royal Bronze and Matte Blue) for the Access 125 and one new colour scheme (Matte Blue) for the Burgman Street. Apart from this, both scooters stay mechanically unchanged, sharing the same 124cc engine making an identical 8.6bhp and 10Nm.
Commenting on the launch of the Bluetooth-compatible Access 125 and Burgman Street, Koichiro Hirao, MD, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said,"The Access 125 and Burgman Street have been among the top-selling scooters in their respective segments, known for their performance and features. We are confident that the new models with Bluetooth-enabled digital consoles will increase customers’ trust in the brand, as a result of getting additional useful and attractive functions."
As expected, the introduction of new features brings about a hike in prices as well. The Access 125 is now a uniform Rs 3800 dearer (Rs 77,700 for the drum brake/alloy wheel variant and Rs 78,600 for the disc brake variant), while the Burgman Street is Rs 6700 costlier, at Rs 84,600.
As mentioned, the only like-for-like competitor here, feature-wise, in the TVS Ntorq. And even then, the nous of both is subtly different, with the Ntorq 125 aimed at the sportier rider, while both the Access 125 and Burgman Street are more suited for a comfortable, daily commute. Nevertheless, a comparo wouldn't hurt. What say, Ed?